Autumn Rowton Castle Wedding | Relaxed & Romantic Inspiration

Ursula and Chris’ small autumnal wedding at Rowton Castle in Shropshire was an absolute joy to capture. From the glowing colour palette and heartfelt ceremony to their easy, joy-filled energy, it was the perfect mix of romance and relaxed celebration; everything I love about photographing smaller weddings in autumn.

First, it was at Rowton Castle, which is one of my favourite Shropshire wedding venues. Secondly, they had a lovely autumnal theme to the day, which looked stunning. Thirdly, it was a relatively small guest list: by default, intimate weddings usually create a lovely vibe, where the focus is all on the romance. And last – but by no means least – because of Ursula and Chris, who are sunshine personified. As you can see they’re so loved up, which made photographing the day a total breeze!

A relaxed, romantic autumn wedding at Rowton Castle

I always adore photographing weddings at Rowton Castle in Shropshire, whether they’re grand celebrations or smaller, intimate gatherings like Ursula and Chris’s autumnal day. The 17th-century castle oozes character and history, with elegant interiors, landscaped gardens, and rolling countryside views that make every season look spectacular.

Best friends married by their best friend

Ursula and Chris chose to hold their ceremony in the light-filled Orchard Suite at Rowton Castle. The tall windows, floral-patterned wallpaper and natural light created a romantic, intimate setting for their vows.

Their celebrant was one of the mutual friends who’d first introduced them 11 years ago at Aberystwyth University, which made the ceremony even more special and personal. In true reflection of their connection, they also included a ring warming ritual, where their wedding rings were passed among guests for a blessing or wish before being exchanged.

To frame their vows, they chose a beautiful floral moongate arch, echoing the soft autumnal tones of the day.

Afterwards, we dashed outside for a confetti moment and celebratory bubbles before the rain returned. While guests stayed cosy indoors enjoying drinks and board games (a sweet nod to the couple’s favourite date nights), I took some relaxed group portraits in front of the frescoed pavilion outside.

An earthy, autumnal vibe wedding

Ursula and Chris had originally been planning a more DIY celebration before discovering Rowton Castle, and it turned out to be the perfect match for their creative, relaxed style. Because they’d already started gathering décor and details, they were able to combine their own personal touches with the castle’s elegant features to create a day that felt completely their own.

Their vision centred around an earthy, autumnal colour palette of yellow, pink, and orange woven through rich greenery. Wendy Shaw Flowers brought it beautifully to life in the bouquets, buttonholes, and table arrangements, while yellow taper candles and gold charger plates added warmth and glow to the reception tables.

They also carried a clever recurring shape throughout their décor – gold hoops and circular details on the table plan, signage, and even their cake stand – all echoing the moongate arch they were married beneath. Subtle, thoughtful, and cohesive, it gave the whole day a sense of flow and intention.

Rustic, romantic wedding outfits

Of course, another way they brought the earthy, autumnal vibes was in their outfits. Ursula stunned us all in a vintage dress that she found on eBay, complete with floaty sleeves and made in an exquisite bohemian lace – the perfect choice for her autumn wedding at Rowton Castle. She also wore a flower crown (which she found on Vinted) in her auburn hair, looking every inch the autumnal princess. Chris looked super sharp too, in a wintery grey 3 piece suit, paired with a floral shirt and orange tie.

A relaxed, romantic Rowton Castle Wedding

It truly was a joy to photograph Ursula and Chris’ wedding day. Their friendly, warm, gorgeous vibes were infused in every single element of the day, meaning it was super relaxed from start to finish, and exactly what they wanted – a day to celebrate with their nearest and dearest.

Kind Words – Gushy Note

Here’s what the wonderful bride and groom had to say about having me as their wedding photographer:

“We couldn’t have picked a better photographer for our big day – Laura is SO lovely and incredibly talented. We are blown away with just the previews so we can’t wait to see how great the other photos are! On the day, Laura worked creatively with the weather we had and the gorgeous venue, and made us both feel more at ease and relaxed. I think that shows in her photos, and there’s so much life and soul in them we’re really blown away with how much we love them! Thank you so much Laura :)”

Contact Laura

If you’re planning a Rowton Castle wedding or another autumn celebration in Shropshire, I’d love to chat. Or perhaps you’re planning a Shropshire wedding elsewhere, but with a very similar focus on fun, sentimentality and love — you can tell me all about your plans so far here.

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